Improvement in kaleidoramas



A. G. FER RES & C. E. SCHGUL.

Kaieidnram,

No. 163,173 Patented Ma 11,1875.

THE GRAPHIC CO.PHOTO-LITH.39 & 41 PARK PLACEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED O. FERRIS AND CHARLES E. SCHOOL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN KALEIDORAMAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,173, dated May 11,1875; application filed March 18, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED O. FERRIS, and CHARLES E. ScnooL, both ofthe city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Kaleidorama; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof,sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which our inventionappertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side view of a magic lantern having our inventionapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a face view of a kaleidoscope to be displayedby said lantern. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of opposite ends of the deviceembodying our invention. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectionthereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral figures.

Our invention has for its object the production of kaleidoscopic effectsby a magic lantern, or other displaying lantern; and it con sists of areflector, which, adapted to be arranged in the tubes of the condensers,is constructed to concentrate the light, and to be most effective forthe purpose intended.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a magic-lantern, which isconstructed as usual, and B represents a kaleidoscopic slide therefor,in which the pieces of glass, &c., or trinkets, are confined between twotransparent disks, whose rotary motion is imparted by a pulley-wheel andband or cord, or otherwise, as is well known. O represents a cylinder,within which is arranged longitudinally a cone, 1), and on the externalface of which, at one end, is a collar, E; which makes one end of thecylinder of greater diameter than the other end. Within the cone 1) arelongitudinallyarranged reflectors F F, which consist of pieces ofreflecting surfaces of tapering form, and joining to each other at oneside, the other sides spreading, and held apart by a bracepiece, G,which bears against said other sides, and is confined by the conicaltube or cone D. The narrow end of the cone will be supported by a disk,which is secured to the cylinder 0, and has an opening, so as toencircle the cone.

The device, thus constructed, is what we term a kaleidorama, which is tobe introduced into the tubes of the condensers of a magic or otherdisplay lantern, the collar E fitting closely to the wider tube, so asto properly sustain the device, while the remainder of the cylinder,being of less diameter, occupies the narrow tube of the condensers, andnot in contact therewith, so that the focus of the lantern may beadjusted as required. The lamp of the lantern is lighted, and the slideB applied in position, care being taken to bring the trinkets or objectsof the slide in direct line of the condensers, so that they will beproperly reflected in the kaleidorania. Now, rotate the objects, and thekaleidoscopic effect will be most beautifully and distinctly thrown onthe screen or other place of display, the distinctness or sharpness ofwhich is due to the conical or taper form of the reflectors which serveto concentrate the light.

In the present case the circle of reflection is divided into fivesectors, but by decreasing the angle of the reflectors, the number ofsectors may be increased.

The device is applicable to various-sized condensers, the wide ends ofthe reflectors requiring, however, to be about equal to the diameters ofthe condensers, or sufficient to produce the proper angle.

The kaleidorama, as constructed, will be found to be especiallyapplicable to ordinary magic lanterns, since it is simple andinexpensive.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The kaleidoraina, consisting of the tapering or conical reflectors F,and adapted to operate with the condensers of the lantern A,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The cylinder 0, with cone D and reflectors F therein, and the collarE encircling the cylinder, substantially as and for the purposesctforth.

' ALFRED O. FERRIS.

CHARLES E. SCHOOL.

Witnesses: r

JOHN A. Wrnnnnsnnnr, A. P. GRANT.

